Kensington and Chelsea

Family life changed for many in Kensington and Chelsea between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population changed very little

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Kensington and Chelsea remained close to 159,000.

The loss of almost 300 people means this area's population was the most rapidly-declining in London and, while the population of England increased by 7.9%.

In 2011, Kensington and Chelsea was home to, on average, 93 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it England's second-most densely-populated borough.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Kensington and Chelsea

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Kensington and Chelsea increased by one year, from 35 to 36 years.

This cosmopolitan area had a higher average age than London and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 2,700 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 50 and 59 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 15% of people in Kensington and Chelsea are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kensington and Chelsea by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

The percentage of married people increased

Kensington and Chelsea saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) people aged 16 and over in Kensington and Chelsea said they were married, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single decreased from 49% to 48%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of married people occurred in City of London (from 31% to 35%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to City of London should be made with caution.

The proportion of married people was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Kensington and Chelsea

Kensington and Chelsea saw London's third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.7%) in Kensington and Chelsea reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 5.4% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 1.7% to 2.2%.

Across the region, only Barking and Dagenham (from 5.7% to 4.7%) and Redbridge (from 6.8% to 6.2%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Every local authority area across London saw a fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability, as the regional average fell from 5.8% to 5.3%.

During this period, Kensington and Chelsea went from having the 22nd-highest to the 11th-lowest percentage of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Kensington and Chelsea stood out from other areas for working hours

The percentage of people working long hours increased in Kensington and Chelsea, while falling across England.

In Kensington and Chelsea, the proportion went up from 23% in 2001 to 24% in 2011, while across England it fell from 13% to 10%. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 13% to 11%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Kensington and Chelsea increased from 2.0% to 2.8%.

Long hour working was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Kensington and Chelsea

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 23% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Kensington and Chelsea.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across London (from 16% to 21%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Kensington and Chelsea that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 98,000 in 2001 to just over 86,000 in 2011 (from 62% to 54%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 15,000 to just under 16,000 (from 9.2% to 10%).

Just under 16,000 people (8.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 13,000 in 2001 (10.0%).

The population without a religion in Kensington and Chelsea increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kensington and Chelsea by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Kensington and Chelsea that rented privately increased from 27% to 36% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in four (25%) households lived in social housing, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of Kensington and Chelsea households that owned their home decreased from 43% to 36%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Kensington and Chelsea increased by 9.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Kensington and Chelsea, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Kensington and Chelsea

In 2011, 71% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 79% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Kensington and Chelsea.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across London (from 71% to 60%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Kensington and Chelsea from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 10,000 in 2001 to just under 16,000 in 2011 (from 6.5% to 10%). The number of residents from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group) increased from about 6,100 to about 11,000 (from 3.8% to 7.2%).

Just over 10,000 people (7.0%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, down from about 11,000 in 2001 (6.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Kensington and Chelsea decreased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kensington and Chelsea by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Kensington and Chelsea residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.5% to 4.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Kensington and Chelsea residents that described their health as fair decreased from 17% to 9.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Kensington and Chelsea decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Kensington and Chelsea, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of households in Kensington and Chelsea, which comprised one person, decreased from 49% to 47% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had an unmarried couple remained close to 8.3%, while the percentage of households in Kensington and Chelsea which comprised a married couple (with or without children) increased from 18% to 22%.

The proportion of one-person households fell at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 35% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Kensington and Chelsea residents that were unemployed decreased from 4.7% to 4.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 45% in 2001. The percentage of Kensington and Chelsea residents that were self-employed increased from 14% to 15%.

The proportion of unemployed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.4% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Kensington and Chelsea with children remained close to 19% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 7 in 10 (75%) households had no children, compared with 76% in 2001. The percentage of households in Kensington and Chelsea with only adult children living with their parents increased from 5.2% to 6.0%.

The proportion of households with children increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 29% in 2001 to 31% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across London

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Kensington and Chelsea residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Kensington and Chelsea remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kensington and Chelsea by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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